President Obama has just announced that Melissa Hathaway will spend the next 60 days directing a review of U.S. cybersecurity policy. Hathaway has been the cybersecurity adviser to the director of national intelligence, and an important voice on the economic and national security aspects of cybersecurity.
It's great to see that the new administration recognizes the crucial economic and national security importance of network security. While we embrace the Internet as a free and open community, it is important to protect it against the kind of net pollution that threatens this global community.
Here's what Arts+Labs co-chairs Mike McCurry and Mark McKinnon had to say about the news:
President Obama's fast-track review of cybersecurity signals the central role that computer networks now play in providing both national defense and economic security.
In addition to securing government networks against foreign agents and terrorists, the government must work with the private sector to protect the public Internet against cybercrime, terror attacks, and disruptive online activities that threaten digital commerce and communication. According to one recent study, malicious online activity drained $1 trillion from the world economy last year - an extraordinary loss that only adds to our general economic difficulties.
We also note that the assignment of Melissa Hathaway, who worked on this issue in the Bush administration, signals that cybersecurity is a truly critical issue that transcends politics. Addressing cyber threats is essential for continued development of the digital economy and the Internet-based activities that have become an integral part of American life.
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